Shuttle changing loom



` 3 Sheets-Sheelt 1 Dec. 31, 1935.

w.w. ROBERTSON SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Aug. 17, 1934 Dec. 31, 19.35.w. w. ROBERTSON SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Aug. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet2 v J7( 713407" WM weriw @1MM Dec. 31, .1935. w, w ROBERTSN l2,925,901

SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Aug. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec.31, 1935 SHUTTLE CHANGENG LOOM Wiiiiam W. Robertson, Worcester, Mass.,assigner to Crompton t Knowles Loom Werks, Worcester, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Appiication August i7 6 Claims.

reserve incoming shuttle is inserted into the same box. The normalcondition of the box is changed during the replenishing operation and isthen restored preparatory to picking the new shuttle. If the latter isimproperly boxed, or if the outgoing shuttle fails to be completelyejected, the shuttle box cannot return to normal condition, and I usethe resultant abnormal condition to prevent restarting of the loom.

In double shuttle looms it is convenient to supply a single box frontfor both shuttle boxes and raise it preparatory to a shuttle changingoperation. The front is lowered after the shuttle change just before theloom resumes operation, and if a shuttle is misplaced in either box, dueto faulty ejection or defective transfer, the front cannot reach itsnormal position. It is a further object of my invention to prevent theloom from starting up should a shuttle remain misplaced in a doubleshuttle loom after the normal time for shuttle changing.

It is customary in looms of this type to employ protector mechanism tostop the loom after restarting should either shuttle fail to enter itsbox properly and such protector mechanism may be used in conjunctionwith my invention. Previously proposed methods for controlling looms ofthe type specified, however, have contemplated the restarting of theloom regardless of improper transfer of shuttles an-d reliance has beenhad upon the protector mechanism to stop the loom should a shuttle notbe properly boxed. This is always an abrupt harsh action which subjectsthe loom to considerable strains and it is an important' object of mypresent invention to relieve the loom of these strains by making itimpossible forV the loom to resume operation when a shuttle isimproperly transferred.,

More particularly Ythe type of loom to be set forth hereinafter includesin its construction a change shaft which rotates during the shuttlechanging operation and carries cams forV performing the severalfunctions incident to a shuttle change, the last of which is to move arestarting rod connected to the shipper mecha- 193i, serial No. 740,315

(ci. rse-227) nism, by means of which the loom is connected to itsdriving motor. My invention contemplates means for breaking theconnection between the restarting rod and the shipping mechanism shouldthe incoming shuttles fail to be properly transferred. This result Iprefer to accomplish electrically by means of a circuit which can beclosed by failure of the box front to return t0 its normal positionafter theshuttle changing operation. cuit from the change shaft so thatthere is no opportunity for said circuit to be closed and thereforewaste electric energy except during a shuttle changing operation.

I nd it convenient to control the cirwe While the invention will be setforth lmore 15u particularly as adapted to a double shuttle loo-m, yetcertain features of the invention are not limited to this type of loomand are equally adaptable to a form of loom wherein one shuttle ischanged at a time.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my in` vention resides in the combination andarrange-Y ment of parts hereinafter described and set forth in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of myinvention is set forth,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a loom having my invention applied theretoshowing the loom in position to start a shuttle changing operation,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the upper central part of Fig. 1,showing the parts carried by the lay,

Figs, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing parts of Fig. 2 indifferent positions, Fig. 3 with the shuttles properly boxed and Fig. 4with one of the shuttles improperly boxed,

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of part of the structure shown in Fig.1, indicating the means for controllingthe restarting rod,

Fig. 6 'is an end elevation taken in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view ofthe electric circuit, and

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section on line 8 3 of Fig. 3 showing therelation of the parts which permit closure of the circuit shown in Fig.7 during shuttle changing operation only.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown a loom frame itl having a lay ii movable about an axis i2 and having upper and lower shuttle boxes i3and i4, respectively, for shuttles S and S which are picked togetherthrough upper and lower warp sheds W and W respectively. The lay has alay end I5 to the upper part of which is pivoted a lever I6 at Il andhaving pivoted thereto as at I8 a box front structure I9. An arm 28moving with the lever I6 is connected to a link 2| the lower end ofwhich is attached to a second arm 22, and the latter is rocked by areciprocating rod 23. A link 24 is threaded into a block 25 connectedpivotally to the box front I9 moving with lever I6. The rear end of thelink 24 is pivoted as at 26 to the lay end. y l

A cam not shown is operative during a shuttle changing operation todepress rod 23 and rock lever I6 in a counter-clockwise direction aroundits axis to raise the box plate structure I 9. At the same time link 24acts to give box front structure I9 an upward and slightly outwardmotion.

An ejector lever 38 is pivoted at 3| to the lay end and has an operatingscrew 32 to be engaged by the block 25 as the box front structure I9nears the upper limit of its travel. Upper and lower ejector ngers 33and 34, respectively, are supported by and move with the lever 38 andpass through the lay end to engage the shuttles and eject them forwardlyso that they will move downwardly along an apron 35 leading to a spentshuttle receiver box 36.

The reserve shuttles are held in magazines M and M' which feed the upperand lower shuttle boxes, respectively, through front and back conveyors48 and 4|, respectively, movable under their respective magazines. Theseconveyors are mounted on conveyor levers 42 and 43, respectively, whichare moved by cams 44 andV 45, respectively, secured to a change shaft 46normally at rest. These cams cooperate with rolls 4l on the levers, andsprings 48 pull the conveyor levers rearwardly.

The means for restarting the loom includes a cam 58 secured to thechange shaft 46 and cooperating with a lever 5l movable about a fixedaxis 52 and having an upright arm 53 operatively related to the rear endof a restarting rod 54. The forward end of this rod carries a head 55provided with a horizontal slot 56 the rear end of which has an uprightbend 51 to receive a stud 58. VThe latter is carried by an arm 59secured to a shipper shaft 68.

When the loom is at rest prior to the beginning of a shuttle changingoperation, cam 58 is to the right, or just ahead of, lever 5| in theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 1. As the shaft rotates by acontrol exercised preferably from the opposite end of the loom throughweft detector mechanism, not shown, the cams 44 and 45 operate in knownmanner to actuate the conveyor levers and release the bottom shuttlesfrom the magazines and place them on the conveyors. The conveyor leversdo not start backwardly until time has been allowed for the ejection ofthe spent or outgoing active shuttles, after which said levers performtheir shuttle inserting function while the box front structure i9 israised. After the fresh shuttles are inserted in their boxes, continuedrotation of shaft 45 moves the conveyor levers forwardly toward normalposition, and at about the same time the box front I9 descends.

The last major function of shaft 48 so far as the shuttle changingoperation is concerned is to cause cani 59 to rock lever 5| in acounter-clockwise direction and move rod 54 rearwardly, or to the leftas viewed in Fig. 1. normally be in the bend 57 in slot 55 and thereforerearward motion of the rod will `rock arm 5S in a clockwise direction.It is suiicient for purposes of the present description to state thatStud 58 Will such a movement on the part of arm 59 will roc shippershaft 58 in a direction to connect the loom with its driving motor notshown so that loom operation will be resumed.

The matter thus far described of itself forms no part of my presentinvention and may be substantially the same as set forth in patent toCowan No. 1,906,544. Certain features of the matter already describedare similar to .those found in patents to Jackson Nos. 1,434,211 and1,133,802.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide means for preventing cam50 or its equivalent from restarting the loom should a fault occur inthe transfer of either of the incoming reserve shuttles. Accordingly, Isecure a switch K to the lay and provide for opening the same when thebox plate is down but otherwise the switch will be closed. This switchcomprises upper and lower contacts 78 and 1|, respectively, which areinsulated from each other and from the loom, the upper prong beingconnected to wire 'I2 while lower prong is attached to wire 13. Acontrol lever 14 is pivoted as at 'I5 to the lay and has a forward end'I8 positioned for engagement with the bottom of the box front structureI9. A tension spring Il is interposed between the lay end and lever 'i4and tends to hold the latter yieldingly in raised position so that aswitch closing finger 'i8 can raise the bottom prong 1| against theupper prong 18 to close the switch K. During normal loom operation,however, with box front structure I9 down the lever 'I4 is in a positionshown in Fig. 3 and the switch is open.

In order that the control for restarting may be exercised only during ashuttle changing operation I have provided a second switch L. I haveprovided a contact arm 80 secured to shaft 45 and having a springcontact 8| as shown in Fig. 8. A fixed stand 82 has a Contact 83 formedwith the head of a screw 84 which passes through the support or standand is insulated therefrom by a bushing 85. Wire 13 is connected to thescrew 84 while the contact spring 8| is grounded."

through the metallic connections of the shaft and arm 88.

The controller for the rod 54 comprisess a lever 88 pivoted at.89 andhaving the forward end Vthereof'connected to a link 98 thalower end ofwhich is connected to a core 9| ofga solenoid 92. The latteris securedto a xedpart of the loom, such as a bracket 93a which forms the outerpart of support for the magazine end. The rear end of lever 88 may beforked as at 93, Fig. 6, to receive the restarting rod 54. Downwardmovement of the core 9| will rock lever 8| in a clockwise direction toraise the forward end ofj rod 54 and lift the horizontal slot 56 intoalignment with the stud 58 of the shipper mechanism.y An arm 96 fastenedto lever 88 depends from the latter and has attached thereto the lowerend of a yielding lock spring 81A the upper endl of.`

which is attached to a fixed part of the loom..

Normally the spring is to the right of the pivot 89v but when a solenoidrocks lever 88, the arm96 moves the spring so that the same is; to .theleft of said pivot for the purpose of holding the leven will bedepressedso that prongs 'l0 and 1| are out of contact with each other.As the shuttle changing operation nears completion shaft 46 will turn toa position where the spring 8| is in engagement with the contact 83, butinasmuch as switch K is open the closure of contacts 8| and 83A will bewithout effect.

As previously stated, failure of the ejectingv or transferringmechanisms will leave a shuttle improperly placed relatively to theshuttle boxes and the latter will not be able to return to normalposition. As shown herein this failure to return to normal isrepresented by inability of the box front to return to its down positiondue to the lower shuttle projecting forwardly from its correct position.As the shaft 46 moves the parts to the dotted line position shown inFig. 1, switch L closes and cam 50 is approaching, lever 5|.

With the box front IS held up, switch K is closed, and as a resultcurrent will flow through the circuit shown in Fig. 7 as follows: Sourceof electric power |00, Wire to the ground which may be any part of themachine, up from the ground indicated by wire |02 to the shaft 46 andcontact 8| metallically connected thereto, contact 83, wire 13, lowerprong 1|, upper prong 10, wire 12, solenoid 92, and wire |03 back to thebattery. Current flowing in this circuit due to closure of switch K willenergize the solenoid and rock lever 58 to raise the restarting rod asalready set forth.

As cam 50 moves rod 54 rearwardly, immediately thereafter, the stud 58will slide along the horizontal slot 5S and the arm 59 will remain instopping position as shown in Fig. 1. Shaft 4B will thereafter come torest in the usual way as for instance according to the disclosure ofVose application Serial No. 603,051, or any other well-known way, andthe loom will be at rest.

In order that the lever 'ld may not interfere with ejection of the lowershuttle I may if desired provide said lever with a stop 6| which engagesa part of the lay and to hold said lever below the path of ejection ofshuttle S when the box front structure I9 is raised. Reference to Fig. 1will show that one of the springs 48 is connected as at 53 to the arm 53of lever 5|, tending to hold the latter in operative relation withrespect to its acuating cam and serving also to hold arm 53 yieldinglyin forward position so that the restarting rod 5 can be held yieldinglyin proper position to effect register between stud 58 and bend 51through the action of a coil compression spring 53 around rod 5d andinterposed between the arm 53 and the collar 64 secured to saidrestarting rod. A nut 65 behind arm 53 permits adjustment and limitsforward motion of the rod head 55 relatively to the shipping mechanism.If desired, the rocking of lever 30 may be accomplished by engagement ofscrew 32 with a surface El on the box front structure instead of byengagement with the block as previously described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means forpreventing the restarting of the loom should a defect occur either inthe ejection of the outgoing active shuttles or transfer of the incomingreserve shuttles. This result is conveniently accomplished as set forthherein through a control exercised by a part of the shuttle boxstructure. When applied specifically to a double shuttle loom the boxfront I9 is the controller for the switch K, and this front serves forboth boxes, but the invention is not limited to double shuttle looms.Looms of the general Vtype set forth herein are usually constructed sothat thefailure of the outgoing active shuttles to be ejected willresult in locking the conveyor levers in. ltheir forward positions asshown for instance in JacksonY Patent No. 1,434,211, or copending Voseapplication Serial No. 739,097

- and such a featurecan be used with the invention structure.. From thisit will be seen that any con- `dition of shuttles on the lay whichprevents the restoration of the shuttle box structure to normalcondition as by movement of the plate I9 to its down position, willresult in preventing restarting of the loom.

V Having thus described my invention it will .be

seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionand I do not wish to be limited to the detailsherein disclosed, but whatI claim is:Y Y

1. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttlechange, a shuttle box having a part movable from normal to abnormalposition during shuttle change and returnable to normal position aftershuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electromagneticcontroller for the mechanism, and means delining an electric Contactcontrollable by said part of the shuttle box, said contact effective toactuate the electromagnetic controller when said part of the shuttleboxis prevented from returning to normal position after a shuttlechanging operation.

2. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttlechange, a shuttle box having a part movable fromY normal to abnormalposition during shuttle change and returnable to normal position aftershuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electromagneticcontroller for the restarting mechanism, and an electric contactconnected to the electromagnetic controller and controlled by saidshuttle box part and eective to cause said electromagnetic controller toprevent the restarting mechanism from restarting the loom when saidshuttle box part fails to return to normal position after a shuttlechanging operation.

3. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to Y rest to effect shuttlechange, a shuttle box having a part movable from normal to abnormalposition during shuttle change and returnable to normal position aftershuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, a change shaft to beoperatively related to the restarting mechanism, an electromagneticcontroller for the restarting mechanism capable of rendering the latterinoperative to restart the loom, two contacts, and an electric circuitincluding said contacts and the electromagnetic controller, one of saidcontacts controlled by said part of the shuttle box and the othercontact being closable by operation of the change shaft, said contactsjointly effective to cause the electromagnetic controller to prevent therestarting mechanism from restarting the loom when said part of theshuttle box fails to return to normalposition after a shuttle changingoperation.

4. In a shuttle changing loom which comes to rest to effect shuttlechange, a shuttle box having a part movable from normal to abnormalposition during shuttle change and returnable to normal position aftershuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, an electromagneticcontroller for the restarting mechanism to render the same ineffectiveto restart the loom when said controller is actuated, a change shaftrotatable during a shuttle changing operation and operatively relatableto the restarting mechanism, a contact to be closed when said part ofthe shuttle box moves to abnormal position and to be open when said partreturns to normal position, a second contact to be closed by rotation ofthe change shaft, and a circuit including both of said contacts and theelectromagnetic controller and effective when said part of the shuttlebox fails to return to normal position to prevent operative relationbetween the change shaft and restarting mechanism.

5. In a shuttle changing double shuttle loom which stops to changeshuttles and has two shuttle boxes to cooperate with two activeshuttles, a part cooperating with the shuttle box movable from normal toabnormal position during Shuttle change and returnable to normalposition after shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, anelectro-magnetic controller for the mechanism, and means defining anelectric contact controllable by said part, said contact eiective toactuate the electromagnetic controller when said part is prevented fromreturning to normal position by faulty position of a shuttle in eithershuttle box after a shuttle changing operation.

6. In a shuttle changing double shuttle loom which stops to changeshuttles and has two shuttle boxes to cooperate with two activeshuttles, a box front common to both boxes and movable from normal toabnormal position during shuttle change and returnable to normalposition after a shuttle change, restarting mechanism for the loom, anelectro-magnetic controller for the restarting mechanism, and anelectric contact connected to the electro-magnetic controller andcontrolled by said box front and effective to cause saidelectro-magnetic controller to prevent the restarting mechanism fromrestarting the loom when said box front fails to return to normalposition because of faulty position of a shuttle in either shuttle boxafter a shuttle changing operation.

WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON.

